The sky blazes with a tropical sunset, its colors mirrored in the smooth lagoon. Ashore, lights begin to wink on, snatches of steel drum and calypso folk songs hint at festivities to come.

Our crew of jolly elves transforms the ship into a holiday wonderland. Live pine trees scent the air and fill the Crystal Plaza with their glittering ornaments. Golden reindeer and life-size carousel horses prance in the luminous passageways, foxes in scarlet livery bring back the magic of fairytales and childhood.

Nature, in the meantime, dons her holiday best, enlivening this special time of the year with all the color and splendor of the tropics. The beaches are sparkling white; the turquoise waters gleam as the last memories of winter - snowdrifts, deadlines, greeting cards to write, dishes to wash - melt away in the balmy air.